Binnorie

There were two sisters sat in a bower Binnorie, o Binnorie

There came a knight to be their wooer

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

He courted the eldest with glove and ring Binnorie, o Binnorie

But he loved the youngest above a’ thing

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

The eldest she was vexed sair Binnorie o Binnorie

And sore envied her sister fair

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

The eldest said to the youngest one Binnorie o Binnorie

Will ye go and see our father’s ships come in

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

She’s taken her by the lily white hand Binnorie o Binnorie

And led her down to the river strand

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

The youngest stood upon a stone Binnorie o Binnorie

The eldest came and pushed her in by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

She took her by the middle small Binnorie o Binnorie

And dashed her bonnie back to the jaw

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

0 sister, sister, reach your hand Binnorie o Binnorie

And ye shall be heir of half my land

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

0 sister, I’ll not reach my hand Binnorie o Binnorie

And I ‘ll be heir of all your land

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

0 sister, reach me but your glove Binnorie o Binnorie

And sweet William shall be your love

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove Binnorie o Binnorie

And sweet William shall better be my love

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam Binnorie o Binnorie

Until she came to the miller’s dam

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

The miller hasted and drew his dam Binnorie o Binnorie

And there he found a drowned woman

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

A famous harper passing by Binnorie o Binnorie

The sweet pale face he chanced to spy

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

He made a harp of her breast-bone Binnorie o Binnorie

Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

The strings he framed of her yellow hair Binnorie o Binnorie

Whose notes made sad the listening ear

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

He brought it to her father’s hall Binnorie o Binnorie

And there was the court assembled all

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

He laid this harp upon a stone Binnorie o Binnorie

And straight it began to play alone

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

0 yonder sits my father, the king Binnorie o Binnorie

And yonder sits my mother, the queen

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

And yonder stands my brother Hugh Binnorie o Binnorie

And by him my William, sweet and true

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie

But the last tune that the harp played then Binnorie o Binnorie

Was woe to my sister, false Helen

by the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie